Santa Monica Brew Works

"Santa Monica Brew Works is the only brewery in the neighborhood not located in a mall, so they could probably skate by on mediocrity. But they don’t. Their taproom pours a long list of beers, like tangy witbiers, IPAs, and more experimental brews like a fruity guava-piña sour that tastes like something we’d order at a beach bar. The physical space is pretty standard for a brewery, but what sets it apart is its built-in lunch option: Emmy Squared. The Brooklyn-based pizzeria has QR codes on the table so you can order a sheet pan pizza for the group or their damn good burger. " - brant cox, sylvio martins, nikko duren

"If you’re looking to get after it on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon on the Westside, SM Brew Works is where you should head. We wouldn’t exactly call their massive outdoor patio rowdy, but it always seems to be packed with a laid-back crowd who are well-trained in the art of day-drinking. When the beer does start to catch up though, there’s a fantastic crop of rotating food trucks on the premises waiting for you. Plus, the dog watching is also top-notch here, which is exactly the activity we want to participate in after four IPAs." - brant cox

"The flagship taproom of the excellent beer company, SMBW is an ideal place for big groups and day drinking. Objectively, their Head In The Clouds hazy IPA is number one, but we also really enjoy a good ol’ glass of their cucumber kolsh." - kat hong, james montgomery

"Craft brewery Santa Monica Brew Works has reopened their taproom, and also added a bunch of tables to their parking lot. More information and daily hours on their Instagram." - brett keating

"While not exactly located right along the beach, this Santa Monica staple still feels like a seaside hangout thanks to cool coastal breezes and a bright collection of beers made for easy drinking. Better still, the brewery is also now home to New York City’s Emmy Squared, one of the country’s most well-known craft pizza operations." - Farley Elliott